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Neil McCarthy

@neilemccarthy.bsky.social
595 followers 838 following 18 posts

Senior Lecturer in Mucosal Immunology at The Blizard Institute QMUL. Studying human gut γδ T-cell function in health and IBD.

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Reposted by Neil McCarthy
Edelblum Lab @edelblumlab.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
🚨🎥🍿 Preprint alert! We hypothesized that similar to neutrophils, γδ IELs use a CD47-mediated mechanism to navigate migration within the epithelium. In work from @ananya-p.bsky.social's Master's thesis, we show that CD47 and CD18 independently modulate γδ IEL surveillance behavior.
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Alex von Tunzelmann @alexvont.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Me and my grunge friends would’ve killed A.I. with hammers I can tell you that much
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British Society for Immunology @britsocimm.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Have you voted for the next BSI immune cell badge yet?! #BSI26 🦠 The winning design will become the latest addition to our collection and will be available at BSI Congress 2026. Take a look at the options and cast your vote in the poll here: vist.ly/5hsf7
Various immunology stickers on a table and a Celebrate Vaccines label.
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Neil McCarthy @neilemccarthy.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Surely this is the PERFECT year for the #gammadeltaTcell badge given that Prof Adrian Hayday is keynote speaker?! 👀 @forum-gd.bsky.social #gdTcells
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Peter Jukes @peterjukes.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Just a reminder, Professor James Orr, Reform UK head of policy, teaches 'ethics' to undergraduates at Cambridge University youtu.be/aXut3s90rUI
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Neil McCarthy @neilemccarthy.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
*NEW* PhD project available in my lab at The Blizard Institute, QMUL. Fully funded and starting this autumn, we'll be using cool 3D-printed models of human intestine to study how immune-fungal interactions drive gut fibrosis in IBD 🍄 Apply here by Fri 17th July! www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
findaphd.com
Understanding how host-fungal interactions drive gut fibrosis in Crohn’s disease at Queen Mary University of London on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - Understanding how host-fungal interactions drive gut fibrosis in Crohn’s disease at Queen Mary University of London, listed on FindAPhD.com
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Neil McCarthy @neilemccarthy.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
There's a joke to be made here about fat burning in the cold snow, but that's @lydialynch.bsky.social territory I reckon. Think I'll leave the rhino models to @coffeltlab.bsky.social...
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NPR @npr.org · 21/10/2025
A decade ago, research said giving young children peanut products can prevent allergies. A new study says that, 10 years later, tens of thousands of U.S. children have avoided allergies as a result. n.pr/4o3hKJO
n.pr
Reversing peanut advice prevented tens of thousands of allergy cases, researchers say
A decade ago, research said giving young children peanut products can prevent allergies. A new study says that, 10 years later, tens of thousands of U.S. children have avoided allergies as a result.
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Thiago Carvalho @cyrilpedia.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
'All three awards (...) honored achievements rooted in fundamental research from decades ago. Some experts interpret the selections by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences as representing the importance of slow, basic science, work pursued out of a desire to better understand the world.'
nytimes.com
Nobel Prizes This Year Offer Three Cheers for Slow Science
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Neil McCarthy @neilemccarthy.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
PS: Thanks to @edelblumlab.bsky.social for showing me how to do a proper Bluetorial (this isn't bad for my first try, right?)
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Neil McCarthy @neilemccarthy.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
@ukri.org supported this work, which was led by Liya Mathew (funded by Bart's Charity) and is being continued by Sean Carlson with HARP / @wellcometrust.bsky.social. Huge thanks to @chitinette.bsky.social Julian Naglik (KCL) Newman Sze @brocku.ca and of course @eberllab.bsky.social 10/10
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Neil McCarthy @neilemccarthy.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
What's next? We plan to build even better models of human intestine complete with patient immune cells so we can see how well these defend against fungal attack (and start testing drug treatments that could help prevent this). Got other brilliant ideas? Let us know! 👇 9/10
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Neil McCarthy @neilemccarthy.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
Could this really happen in the human intestine? To test this, we built a 'mini gut' model complete with fluid flow and tissue stretch, then added in different fungi. C. albicans strains from CD patients were much better at sticking and invading the model tissues like a pathogen might do. 8/10
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Neil McCarthy @neilemccarthy.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
Do these filaments matter? Well they are pretty BIG so quite difficult for immune cells to eat. In fact, they can even make neutrophils EXPLODE(!) and punch their way out of hungry macrophages 👽. Quite likely bad news for gut inflammation... 7/10
John Hurt enjoying some noodles... 👀
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Neil McCarthy @neilemccarthy.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
Why was this happening? We found lots of genetic differences between C. albicans strains from healthy donors and CD patients, which also reacted very differently when we put them in low-oxygen conditions similar to the human gut 🫧 6/10
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Neil McCarthy @neilemccarthy.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
The main type of fungus we isolated from gut biopsies was Candida albicans. Strains from healthy donors looked like harmless oval yeast: 000. Crohn's disease (CD) strains made invasive filaments that we know can break into human tissues: 0------💥  0----💥 5/10
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Neil McCarthy @neilemccarthy.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
Other labs have shown gut fungi increase in inflammation, so we checked if Vd2+ cells from IBD patients could also pull this trick. Short answer: NO! Vd2+ cells were rare in patient tissue and tough to activate (maybe not helped by some of the treatments used: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26168223/) 4/10
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Azathioprine therapy selectively ablates human Vδ2⁺ T cells in Crohn's disease - PubMed
Tumor-derived and bacterial phosphoantigens are recognized by unconventional lymphocytes that express a Vγ9Vδ2 T cell receptor (Vδ2 T cells) and mediate host protection against microbial infections an...
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Neil McCarthy @neilemccarthy.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
By total chance, we noticed that activating Vd2+ cells in healthy gut tissue cultures kept them nice and clean, but when we didn't do this they would quickly get overrun by fungus!! 🍄😱 3/10
Photo of a gut tissue culture plate in which left well has been overtaken by fungal growth, whereas right well remains clean.
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Neil McCarthy @neilemccarthy.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
In previous teamwork with @eberllab.bsky.social, we showed that bacteria-sensing #gdT-cells in human gut tissue (Vdelta2+) are great inducers of IL-22 cytokine and anti-microbial calpro, but why would this be a useful response to make? 🤔 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28330898/ 2/10
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Neil McCarthy @neilemccarthy.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
📚 NEW #gdT-cell PAPER from our team @QMUL.bsky.social! 🥳 'Bacterial suppression of intestinal fungi via activation of human gut γδ T-cells' out now on @biorxiv-immuno www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... Here's my first attempt at a 'Bluetorial'... 🧵 1/10 #gastrosky #IBDsky
biorxiv.org
Bacterial suppression of intestinal fungi via activation of human gut γδ T-cells
Gut symbionts condition mucosal immunity to resist infection by enteropathogens, but the specific microbes and mechanisms involved differ significantly between host species. In higher primates, bacter...
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Edelblum Lab @edelblumlab.bsky.social · 07/08/2025
📚NEW #gdTcell PAPER ALERT! 'Microbiota promote enhanced CD39 expression in γδ intraepithelial lymphocytes through the activation of TCR and IL-15 signaling' is now out in @mucosalimmunol.bsky.social! #gastrosky #GIsky #IBDsky Join us for a Bluetorial 🧵...
sciencedirect.com
Microbiota promote enhanced CD39 expression in γδ intraepithelial lymphocytes through the activation of TCR and IL-15 signaling
Intraepithelial lymphocytes expressing the γδ T cell receptor (γδ IEL) provide continuous surveillance of the intestinal epithelium. We report that mi…
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bioRxiv Immunology @biorxiv-immuno.bsky.social · 20/09/2025
Bacterial suppression of intestinal fungi via activation of human gut γδ T-cells www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/202…
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The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 14/09/2025
The “publish or perish” culture in academia creates its own kind of evolutionary pressure. A scholar who studies human behavior through a cultural evolutionary lens explains how the relentless drive to publish can shape – and sometimes undermine – the quality of research. buff.ly/SqnFR4g
buff.ly
‘Publish or perish’ evolutionary pressures shape scientific publishing, for better and worse
Scientists write papers to share their results – and gain prestige and advance their careers. In this competitive field, selection can favor AI-written papers, citation cartels, paper mills and more.
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Bloomberg News @bloomberg.com · 11/09/2025
What happens to US public health without a fully functioning CDC? Americans will get a taste this upcoming cold and flu season.
bloom.bg
How RFK Jr. Is Pushing the CDC to the Brink
A small but vocal contingent has long been demanding changes at the agency. With an ally in RFK Jr., it’s finally getting what it wants—to the horror of the scientists he’s sidelined.
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Eberl Lab 👨🏻‍🔬👩🏽‍💻🔬🧫 @eberllab.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
The perfect end to a great #gammadeltatoronto conference: our latest review has just been published in Advances in Immunology! "Modulation of humoral immunity by γδ T cells: A potential adjuvant strategy for vaccination" 👉🏼 authors.elsevier.com/a/1l8ltErwXf... #gdTcells @forum-gd.bsky.social
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Dr. Nazila Kamaly @nazilakamaly.bsky.social · 28/03/2025
🎉huge congratulations to Jake Samuel for passing his PhD viva with flying colours today! Big thanks to the examiners ⁦ @neilemccarthy.bsky.social and @nickbrooks22.bsky.social 🥳 and ⁦@cesiboy.bsky.social for Co-supervision! Looking forward to Dr Samuel’s gut-lymphatics-on-a-chip papers next! 🚀
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Edelblum Lab @edelblumlab.bsky.social · 22/03/2025
#Bluetorial: In our latest paper on #gdTcells and #IBD in #ScienceImmunology we found that γδ IEL number and regulatory function are severely compromised BEFORE ileal inflammation occurs, suggesting that γδ IELs may maintain IEL homeostasis in response to a pro-inflammatory microenvironment. 1/n
media.tenor.com
two men are riding a bicycle with a basket on it .
ALT: two men are riding a bicycle with a basket on it .
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The New Yorker @newyorker.com · 08/03/2025
In keeping with his decades-long crusade against vaccines, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., initially downplayed the West Texas measles outbreak. Now he’s found himself tasked with the job of doing something about it.
newyorker.com
The Dangers of R.F.K. Jr.’s Measles Response
The H.H.S. Secretary has touted over-the-counter remedies and stressed that the decision to vaccinate is “personal.”
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West Virginia Watch @westvirginiawatch.com · 27/02/2025
As bird flu cases inundate more poultry and dairy farms, state officials worry that the Trump administration’s firings of federal scientists and other actions will undermine efforts to track the virus and protect Americans, reports @nhassanein.bsky.social.
buff.ly
As bird flu spreads, feds might undercut states by firing scientists, removing data
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CNN @cnn.com · 26/02/2025
An unvaccinated, school-age child has died in West Texas. It's the first known death from an outbreak that's infected more than 120 people.
cnn.com
First measles death reported in the West Texas outbreak is school-aged child | CNN
The first measles death in the growing outbreak in West Texas was a school-aged child.
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WIRED @wired.com · 21/02/2025
After a lifetime on the frontiers of the fight against HIV, researchers can finally see the end of the epidemic in sight. But thanks to the Trump administration’s executive orders, it’s unclear when—or possibly even ever—this breakthrough medicine will see the light of day.
wired.com
This New Drug Could Help End the HIV Epidemic—but US Funding Cuts Are Killing Its Rollout
Lenacapavir, a twice yearly injection that prevents HIV transmission, was named the breakthrough medicine of 2024. But without US foreign aid dollars, its delivery to millions worldwide is under threa...
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WHO @who.int · 11/02/2025
Today is International Day of Women & Girls in Science. Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize. Her contributions have left an indelible mark on the world of science & health & continue to inspire generations of scientists & innovators. 🔬 #WomenInScience #WomenInSTEM
Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Marie Curie, Physicist and chemist.
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Science Magazine @science.org · 11/02/2025
When asked to draw a scientist, school-age kids in the United States are increasingly sketching women, according to a study from 2018. Read more on #WomenInScienceDay: scim.ag/4hOUuvx
SCIENCESHOTS What does a scientist look like? Children are drawing women more than ever before
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Mark Cuban @mcuban.bsky.social · 09/02/2025
This is the most relevant article to NIH and research cuts I’ve seen. Imagine if this was today , how many people would be saying “Why are we studying Gila Monsters and their impact on diabetes ? That’s wasted money !” globalnews.ca/news/9793403...
globalnews.ca
How a Canadian scientist and a venomous lizard helped pave the way for Ozempic - National | Globalnews.ca
In 1984, Dr. Daniel Drucker, an endocrinologist from the University of Toronto, discovered a hormone that helped pave the way for popular diabetes drugs such as Ozempic.
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Seth Coffelt @coffeltlab.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
#hiring #postdoc We are looking for a postdoc to work on anti-tumor gamma delta T cells in breast cancer metastasis mouse models. Apply here: www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs...
gla.ac.uk
University of Glasgow - Explore - Jobs at Glasgow - Appointments - Research Associate (Breast Cancer Now) [164192]Search iconClose menu iconMenu icon bar 1Menu icon bar 2Menu icon bar 3
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γδ T cell Forum @forum-gd.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
Highly recommended - the topic, the location and the supervisor! #gdTcells #jobs @tcddublin.bsky.social
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Adam Rogers @jetjocko.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
They…turned off…National Institutes of Health grants? That’s nearly $50 billion of scientific research.
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Peter Cook @drpetercook.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
Completely agree @profandrewmac.bsky.social! A pleasure to work with wonderful colleagues at several institutions including @mrccmm.bsky.social, @lydiabeckeriii.bsky.social and @uoe-eid.bsky.social. Fungi are major causes of asthma but why our immune cells do this is poorly understood.
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Prof Sheena Cruickshank @sheencr.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
Today is a tough day for lots of people so will try and fill my timeline with good things to cheer/distract! I will kick off with this fabulous story of little “saunas” that help frogs fight off a deadly fungal infection 🧪
theguardian.com
‘Frog saunas’ could save species from deadly fungal disease, study finds
Australian scientists create brick refuges in greenhouses to help green and golden bell frogs survive infection
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Fishbourne Roman Palace @romanpalace.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
For Blue Monday we can't think of anything more appropriate than this charming depiction of a man getting his face eaten off by a leopard. #MosaicMonday
A horrific image of a someone who seems to have his hands tied behind his back. A big cat (the predator kind, not the overfed pet kind) has jumped up at him and is devouring his face. Blood splashes on the floor.
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Adrian Liston @labliston.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
Our paper on nurturing a #PositiveResearchCulture within your #research #team published by @wellcometrust.bsky.social gives useful tips for your lab. As well as making you a good team leader, nurturing culture pays off in building your science: 1/11 wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/9-3...
wellcomeopenresearch.org
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Adam R Houston @healthlawadamh.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
In the latest development in the raw milk saga, X is now unpasteurized.
Press release from the Institut Pasteur stating they are leaving X
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Matthew Sinton 🏳️‍🌈 @mcsinton.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
Delighted to have had the opportunity to write this spotlight with @juanquintana.bsky.social and the lab, on the recent @lydialynch.bsky.social paper, showing rhythmicity of IL-17 expression in adipose! Fascinating paper, which raises loads of cool questions #immunosky www.cell.com/immunity/ful...
cell.com
Interleukin-17 and fat: Timing is everything
Interleukin-17 plays a major role in controlling adipose tissue homeostasis. In a recent study published in Nature, Douglas et al. demonstrate that time-of-day-dependent expression of interleukin-17 b...
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γδ T cell Forum @forum-gd.bsky.social · 13/01/2025
Today is your last chance to save on registration rates for the upcoming 11th International γδ T Cell Conference! Visit www.gammadeltatoronto.ca and register before 11:59 pm ET today! #gdTcells #gd2025 #BestConferenceEver
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Seth Abramson @sethabramson.bsky.social · 13/01/2025
🎉
aa.com.tr
Over 60 German universities quit social media platform X
Platform accused of failing to uphold values of diversity, freedom, and scholarship - Anadolu Ajansı
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Adrian Liston @labliston.bsky.social · 12/01/2025
The single best career advice that I give PhDs is that there are multiple different pathways to success. It is the detours that make your insights unique. This is why @immunolcellbiol.bsky.social made #PathwaysToSuccess - get inspired from different journeys! onlinelibrary.wiley.com/page/journal...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
<em>Immunology & Cell Biology</em> | ASI Journal | Wiley Online Library
<em>Immunology & Cell Biology</em>  is the flagship journal of the ASI, focusing on the general functioning of the immune system, with particular emphasis on its cell biology.
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Anne Lamott @annelamott.bsky.social · 07/01/2025
How to write: Stop not writing. Keep your butt in the chair. Write really bad small sections of the whole—passages, moments, episodes, memories—til you have an incredibly shitty 1st draft. Then take out the boring parts, the lies and pretensions. Then write a better 2nd draft.
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Lena Boehme @lenamboehme.bsky.social · 06/01/2025
✨ New year, new opportunities: Come join our team for some exciting projects on human γδ T cell development using single cell and spatial multiomics! We're looking for PhD students and postdocs with interest/experience in computational biology. 👩‍🔬👨‍💻 Reach out for more info!
ugent.be
PhD Student
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Neil McCarthy @neilemccarthy.bsky.social · 06/01/2025
A good start to 2025! We found that IsoDGR protein damage promotes lung inflammation in old mice, but can be successfully treated using antibody therapy? Might the same approach also work in humans? 👀 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... @blizardinstitute.bsky.social @emmaschambers.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Immunotherapeutic targeting of aging‐associated isoDGR motif in chronic lung inflammation
Accumulation of isoDGR-damaged proteins in aged lung tissues leads to macrophage infiltration and chronic inflammation. Anti-isoDGR antibodies treatment clears isoDGR proteins and reduces inflammatio...
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